Counterbalanced gate fob



J. D. MURPHY.

COUNTERBALANCED GATE FOR CONVEYER TRACKS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-26.1918.

Patented May 13, 1919.

WITNESSES:

MEN OR I i X BY- I c I ATTORNEY JOHN MURPHY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GOUNTEBBALANCED GATE FOR CONIVEYERPTRAGKS.

Specification 0! Letters. Patent.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application filed September 2c, 1918. Serial No. 255,754.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN D. MURPIaY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, and State of 1111- nois, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Counterbalanced Gates for Conveyer-Tracks, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description. 1

This invention relates to counterbalanced gates for conveyer tracks and lts principal object is to provide efficient means in conveyer tracks, whereby gaps may be left in p the track to afford passage ways across the plane of the track, said gaps being spanned by counter. Weighted gates which normally close the gaps, thereby forming a continu-v ation of the track, but which. gates may be readily raised to permit passage through the gap. i

In large factories, m1lls and other shops where great quantitles of materlals of a similar kind are manufactured, a track or conveyer is employed upon which the objects are placed, and moved from. one art of the factory tn other parts thereof. or instance in mun'n on factories, shells are moved upon a trawl; from one workman another, each \vorhn i an performing certain labor upon the shell, then placing 1t upon the track and pushing it along to the next station. This is usually done by placing the shells upon the track, one after the other, and pushing the entire row ahead with the last shell.

Tn factories where these tracks extend for hundreds of feet, it is necessary to provide passage ways or aisles across the tracks and considerable difliculty has been encountered in the production of a counterwelghted gate which can be raised and lowered quickly and which will not take up any appreciable amount of additional space. Wlth the present invention, overhead supported counterweights, pulleys, cables and the .llke

, are dispensed with and a simple, eflicient and practical counterweighted gate is procontaining one form of the present invention; Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the parts seen in Fig. 1, and Fig; 3, is a detail cross section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawings, the reference character 5, designates a conveyer track, which may be constructed of any desired length. Where an aisle or passage way across the track is required, the track is cut away to leave a gap between the ends thereof which is closed by a gate 6, hinged to the track at one side of the gap as will ap pear later.. The track and te are formed of parallel angle iron bars 7 and rollers 8, 8, which extend between the bars 7, 7

and are journaled thereon. Anti-friction bearings are provided between the bars and rollers to reduce the friction therebetween to a, minimum;

Preferably other lengthwise! extending supports 9, are provided under the angle iron bars 7 of the stationary track and posts or legs 10, are secured to said supports and carry the track at a suitable plane above the floor, in convenient position to facilitate the placing of shells or other objects on the track or removing them therefrom. The angle iron bars 7 of the stationary track are bolted or otherwise securely fastened to said supports 9.

To the hinge end of the gate are bolted or otherwise secured two flat bars 11, which cooperate with two flat bars 12, that are bolted or otherwise secured to the adjacent I stationary portion of the track, to provide -a hinge connection between the gate and stationary ortion of the track. The bars 11, 12 are olted to the horizontal webs of" the angle iron bars and the bars 11 have end portions 13, which protrude beyond the gate. The end portions 14, of the bars 12, and the protruding end portions 13, of the bars 11, are twisted to'extend in a vertical direction and are bent outward, but parallel with the rails, as seen in Fig. 1. The adjacent vertical end portions 13, 14 are formed with alined holes, through which extend bolts 15, which have nuts threaded in their ends and hingedly connect the gate with the stationary track.

The protruding end portions 13, of the bars 11, extend back beyond the hinge connection and are provided with holes near their ends into which are secured rods 16,

which carry weights 17. The weights may I counterweights thereupon hold the gate in 1ts ralsed os 1- be made in sections and as many sections may be employed as are necessary to counterbalance the gate. Conveniently, the lower ends of the rods 16 are threaded, and nuts 18 secured upon the threaded ends of the r s hold the weights on the rods. Washers 19, and cotter pins 20, above the weights keep them in place and prevent them from rattling. The horlzontal supporting members 9, project beyond the ends of the stationary angle iron bars 7, at the free end of the ate and act to supportut when lowered. Io guide-the gate to its lowered position, a cross piece 21, is secured to thesupportin members 9 and has 1nclined faces whic engage with the sides of the gate and brin it into alinement w1th the stationary ang e iron bars ofthe track.

In use, when the gate is lowered, it overbalances the counterweights and remains in lowered position, thereby closing the gap. Shells or other objects. may be slid from one part of the track and across the gate as is well'understood. Whenit is desired to pass through the gap, the ate is raised and the there y lowered, which tion. The gate is closed by pushing it own upon the su porting members.

It is to I observed that the counterweights occupy very little space, do not obtions of the track, the gate, when raised,

will stand in a plane back of the gap so as not to interfere with the free passage of trucks and the like through the gap. By properly positioning the hinge, the counterwei hts may be caused to strike against the a jacent posts 10 when the gate is raised to open position and thereby prevent it from being swung back too far.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a stationary track having a gap therein, a gate at said gap and forming a continuation of said track said track and gate being. constructed of arallel spaced bars and transverse rollers ournaled thereon, and adapted to support objects which are slid along the same; bars secured to said track and to said gate and having sidewise bent end portions hingedly secured together at points beyond the gate,

he bars which are secured to the gate having rearward extensions, and counterweights secured to said extensions.

2. The combination of a stationary track having a gap therein, a gate at said gap and forming a continuation of said track said track and gate being constructed oi parallel spaced angle iron bars, and transverse rollers journaled thereon, and adapted to support objects which are slid along the same; flat bars secured to said track and to sand gate and having end portions twisted into vertical lanes and hingedly secured together, the ars which are secured to the gate having rearward extensions, and counterwe' hts secured to said extensions.

3. e combination of a stationary track having a gap therein, a gateat said gap and fo a continuation-of said track said track and gate being constructed oi parallel spaced angle iron bars, and transverse rollers journaled thereon, and adapted to sup ort objects which are slid along the same; ars secured to said track and to said gate and having sidewise bent end portions hingedly secured together at points beyond the gate, the bars which are secured to the gate having rearward extensions, free swinging rods secured to the free ends of said extensions; and counterweights removably secured on-said rods.

4. The combination of a stationary track having a gap therein, a gate at said gap and forming a continuation of said track, said track and gate being constructed of parallel, spaced angle ironbars, and transverse rolleis journaled thereon, and adapted to support objects which are slid along the same; bars secured to said track and to said gate and havin end" portions bent outwardly in sidewise directions and hingedly secured'together, the bars which are secured to the gate having rearward extensions, and

' counterweights secured to said extensions.

JOHN D. MURPHY. 

